Join us in helping domestic violence victims and their pets escape and heal together.
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Purple represents states with pet-friendly DV shelters.
Stars indicate which states have pet-friendly shelters through grants provided by the Purple Leash Project.
Making Progress
Today, every state has at least 1 pet-friendly domestic violence shelter, but there is much more work to do. Our goal is to see 25% of shelters in the U.S. become pet-friendly by 2025. We’re committed to donating $2M by 2025 to ensure at least 25% of shelters in the U.S. become pet friendly by that time.
Visit RedRover’s resource directory for survivors and advocates that lists pet-friendly programs across the U.S. and Canada.
The Purple Leash Symbol
The purple leash serves as a symbol of the invisible struggle domestic abuse survivors and their pets face. Purple represents domestic violence awareness, and the leash symbolizes the unbreakable bond between pets and their people.
The Journey to the Purple Leash Project
Purina’s work to help keep domestic violence survivors and their pets together began nearly a decade ago when one of our associates read about the difficult decision many survivors with pets are forced to make: stay with an abuser or leave a beloved pet behind due to the lack of pet-friendly shelters. It didn’t seem fair that pets, who may be the only source of unconditional love and support for a survivor, weren’t being considered when it came to sheltering survivors. So, we decided to help.
Since that time Purina has helped one of the largest domestic violence shelters in the U.S. on its journey to become a leading voice and shining example of pet-friendly sheltering. We also helped create the PAWS Act Coalition in support of the Pets and Women Safety (PAWS) Act, which helps domestic abuse survivors and their pets by advocating for federal resources dedicated to this cause.
Today our goal is to help ensure at least 25% of U.S. domestic violence shelters offer pet-friendly survivor services by the end of 2025. We've already provided grants to 35 shelters across the country. But our long-term goal is to fundamentally change the landscape of domestic violence services for survivors with pets, so no survivor has to choose between their own safety and the safety of their pet.
Partnership with RedRover
RedRover has done amazing work over the last 15 years to change how domestic violence shelters and service providers serve domestic abuse survivors and their pets.
Together We’re Working to Take the Lead
Passage of Paws Act
The PAWS Act was passed in 2018. Now Purina, Red Rover, and other members of the PAWS Act Coalition are continuing efforts to lobby for federal funding and additional support on Capitol Hill.
Volunteers at Work
Our volunteers have dedicated more than 1,500 hours renovating shelters, such as Lydia’s House in Missouri, Northeast Georgia Council on Domestic Violence and Safe Voices in Maine, to make them pet-friendly havens.
Grants to 30+ Shelters
So far, we've awarded 35 grants to domestic violence shelters throughout the country to help them make the transition to welcoming pets.
Only 17 Percent of Domestic Violence Shelters Currently Accept Pets
Together with RedRover, Purina is working to help change that. Our larger goal is to continue to push to have an impact on the overall domestic violence services landscape.
Nation’s First Entirely Pet-friendly Domestic Violence Shelter Opens in NYC
See the Purple Leash Project in Action
Purina & RedRover Join to Help Pet-Friendly Domestic Violence Shelters
How You Can Help
Help us increase the number of pet-friendly domestic violence shelters nationwide.